Since returning to office, President Donald Trump’s administration has significantly altered U.S. foreign aid programs, labeling many longstanding initiatives as misaligned with American interests and cutting their budgets. Despite these cuts, Congress has mandated that billions of taxpayer dollars allocated for foreign aid must still be spent, with continued support for humanitarian aid, global health, and pro-democracy efforts.

A recent investigation by ProPublica uncovered that a lesser-known bureau within the State Department, which has undergone dramatic changes under Trump, is now managing much of this redirected funding. Among the groups considered for funding was Lex Libertas, a British free-speech organization, though the State Department declined to confirm if Lex Libertas would be invited to apply for a $1 million grant. The administration cited serious concerns about human rights issues in South Africa as a motivating factor.

Over the past 18 months, President Trump has asserted that white South Africans face genocide and disproportionate violence, claims he has used to justify cutting U.S. funding for HIV treatment and research in the region. One proposed $5 million grant aimed to support individuals facing "deplatforming" and to oppose restrictive online safety and hate speech laws. However, the organization linked to this grant denied applying for or receiving any U.S. government funding.

Additionally, the bureau has released calls for proposals to fund research, conferences, and cultural engagements in wealthy democracies to foster "civilizational self-confidence in Europe."

This shift in foreign aid priorities reflects a broader realignment under the Trump administration, focusing on narrower issues and groups, including those related to South Africa's white minority, according to sources familiar with the process.

Sources